Read those if you want some facts, but here’s my interpretation of articles I’ve read about it:

If you live in a country that is dark and cold a lot you need to find joy and comfort in darkness and methods of staying warm and cozy.

I noticed this when I spent a few days in Hungary in the winter. It was cold and got dark early but there were meat and potatoes you could buy on just about any corner and big furry hats to keep you warm. In Italy people would be roasting nuts on the side of the road.

I think in American culture we are kind of good at this around Christmas.

Hot cocoa and watching Hallmark movies. Only in dark, coldness do we crave the cheesy, predictable endings of Hallmark Christmas movies.

Comfort foods and desserts and gathering with friends and family.

Candles. If you’re afraid of burning your house down Christmas lights have a similar effect, which is why I took the ornaments off our tree but have left our tree up because we need that subtle, warm glow…also we don’t have overhead lights in all the rooms of our 1948 home. Also using lamps instead of bright lights can create some nice atmosphere.

Fire. If you don’t have a real fire you can look one up on Netflix or YouTube and play it off your laptop. It surprisingly has a similar affect.

Here’s a little example of how coming inside from the cold to a Netflix fire changes everything from the only YouTube video I’ve made that broke 1,000 views.

Chestnuts roasting on an open-fire…if people actually did this it would be very hygge. Chestnuts are a total comfort food, they’re like nutty potatoes, what more could you want? Pro-tip: Skip the open fire and just bake them.

But after Christmas for some reason we seem to pack up all the coziness, stop watching movies and listening to jazzy music, and get on with our lives…Worse, we focus on eating healthy and watch Awards Shows. Comfort and Joy doesn’t have to stop after the Christmas season ends.

I’ve spent the last week making soup and adding to my Pinterest dream board of all the blankets I hope to own one day. (Don’t worry I added some you can buy on Amazon from the comfort of your own hygge home–online shopping’s pretty hygge). I’ve also made sure we’ve stocked up on comfort food like pizza bites and potatoes in case we’re snowed in one of these days. But hygge is also about spending time with family and friends and about taking time to make meals or a cup of something hot. Human connection can warm your soul in the darkest times. Hold a mug in your hands and breath in and just enjoy a moment of focusing on just the one thing at hand (bad pun intended).

I think, through the spirit of hygge that we keep the Spirit of Christmas alive all year long (Tiny Tim said we should, ever heard of him?)

Invite friends over.
Make delicious baked things.
Drink hot drinks…I enjoy what I like to call “hot juice” and Jeff likes to call, “no thanks.”
Order your coffee to stay…coffee shops have some of the best atmospheres.Rescue a dog and force it to sleep in your bed so you don’t freeze at night.
Light candles and set fires…in the fireplace.
Put so many blankets on your bed that you can’t move.
Tuck your pants/leggings into your socks so the cold can’t get you.
Wear flannel and other things that are soft and fuzzy.
Eat delicious food that is warm and fills you up.

Have meaningful conversations and keep friends and family close who might suffer from seasonal (or otherwise) depression. Feed them comfort food and hot juice and watch movies or play games by the fire.

Get yourself the following warm articles of clothing (click on the photo to buy):

Onesies:

Socks:

Fleece-lined leggings:

Wear a blanket by adding safety pins to fashion it into a cape:

Or scrap it all and buy this body suit that covers everything, (heels not recommended for snowy or icy terrain):

How do you keep Hygge-Cozy during the winter months? I’ll be sharing more of my hygee-ness later. Cheers!

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I LOVE this. I always say that I love the snow until after Christmas and then I hate it from the bottom of my heart. It’s time to bundle up and enjoy my life because I can’t keep wishing away literally months of my life away every year!